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Vitals Info: B, M, D

Vitals: Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Please check out our S.I. Researchers and their surnames, you may have a match!

Please also see our Bible Records Page.

Adoption Births Baptisms Marriages Deaths

Early SI Vitals Summary

See unindexed scans at Early vitals scans
FilmItemTownVitalYear(s)
13763681Port RichmondDeaths1888-1897
  Port RichmondBirths1888-1897
  Port RichmondMarriages1888-1897
 2EdgewaterBirths1885-1897
  EdgewaterMarriages1885-1897
 3EdgewaterDeaths1885-1897
 4CastletonBirths1881-1897
  CastletonMarriages1882-1897
 5CastletonDeaths1881-1888
13763691CastletonDeaths1888-1897
 2CastletonBirths1847-1850
  NorthfieldBirths1847-1849
  SouthfieldBirths1848-1849
  Southfield, CastletonBirths1850
  SouthfieldBirths1851-1852
  ?  
  CastletonMarriages1848-1849
  NorthfieldMarriages1847-1849
  SouthfieldMarriages1848-1849
  Southfield, CastletonMarriages1850
  SouthfieldMarriages1852
  WestfieldMarriages1849
  TottenvilleMarriages1864-1865
  CastletonDeaths1848-1849
  NorthfieldDeaths1847-1849
  SouthfieldDeaths1848
  Sailors retreatDeaths1848
  SouthfieldDeaths1850
  SouthfieldDeaths1852
  WestfieldDeaths1849
  ?Births1848
 3NorthfieldDeaths1872-1873
  NorthfieldDeaths1881-1897
  NorthfieldBirths1882-1897
  NorthfieldMarriages1882-1897
 4SouthfieldStillbirths1880s
  SouthfieldDeaths1882-1897
  SouthfieldDeaths1893
  SouthfieldBirths1882-1897
  SouthfieldMarriages1882-1892
  ?Stillbirths1880s
 5WestfieldDeaths1882-1897
  WestfieldBirths1882-1897
  WestfieldMarriages1882-1897
 6MiddletownDeaths1882-1897
  MiddletownBirths1882-1897
  MiddletownMarriages1882-1897
 7TottenvilleBirths1890-1897
  TottenvilleDeaths1890-1897
  TottenvilleMarriages1890-1897

Adoption

NYS adoption records are sealed forever.
Lakeview Home for Unwed Mothers on Staten Island run by Louise Wise Services (Jewish) was open from ? till the late 1970s.
As Agency Closes, Emotions Spill Out (archive) - an article
Posted by Reg Niles, 24 Nov 2004: Yesterday the Adoption News Service issued the news that the records of Louise Wise Services, the New York City adoption agency that closed earlier this year, are in the custody of Spence-Chapin, which is located in Manhattan.
Louise Wise Services used a maternity home on Staten Island and Jewish babies were born in two hospitals there---Staten Island Hospital and St. Vincent's.

Births

1696-1790RDC of PR Baptisms
c. 1847 - c. 1851There is a spattering of births recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film number 1376369. See chart.
c. 1852 - c. 1880There are no births recorded in official records.
c. 1881 - 1897Many but not all births are recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film number 1376369 ONLINE AT A FHC. (Where is a Family History Center near me?) See chart.
1898 - 1909The records (indexes and birth certificates) are available at the NYC Municipal Archives. You can request a mail search or go in person. Indexes, but not records, are also available at the New York Public Library.
Also, at the Municipal Archives behind the counter is a birth index by address 1898-1907.
1910 - 1923The records are available from the NYC Department of Health. Indexes, but not records, are also available at the New York Public Library.
1924 --->These records are available from the NYC Department of Health, but they are covered by New York's 75-year privacy law. (The person must be proven deceased and you must be a descendant.) Some people, however, have gotten birth certificates by sending a copy of the death certificate, without proving descendancy. Indexes through 1982 are also available at the New York Public Library.
Another ideaThere might be a baptismal record. If you have a good idea of the church ( here's a list of current Staten Island churches from SILive) call/write them or see the helplist.

Baptisms

Thanks, Pam!
The published baptismal records for Staten Island (Vol. IV of the Collections of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society), indexed by Tobias Alexander Wright) 1909, includes records from the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond, the United Brethren Moravian Church, and St Andrews Church.
Family genealogies from the Staten Island Historical Society, from 1600's : Butts family genealogical correspondence, from 1800's Staten Island Historical Society (Staten Island, New York) FHL Films #509177 - 509185
Index and gen. data cards : BMD, baptisms, deeds, mortgages and other records from Staten Island and at the Historical Society, from 1600,f Historical Records Survey (New York). FHL Films #539053 - 539071

Marriages

1665-1800Early New Jersey Marriages Relating to Staten Islanders
1666-1799More Early NJ Marriages
1790-1811Dutch Marriages 1790-1811
1764-1863Moravian Church marriages
c. 1847 - c. 1851There is a spattering of marriages recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film number 1376369. See chart.
c. 1852 - c. 1880There are no marriages recorded in official records.
1874 - 1875Carol Race has transcribed census schedule marriages.
c. 1881 - 1897Many but not all marriages are recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film number 1376369. (Where is a Family History Center near me?) See chart.
Note The Department of Health says that marriage certificates between 1881 and 1898 are on file in their office. Indexes only are also at the NYS Archives.
Helpful hint: familysearch.org has indexed them here. If you find a hit, you can request the "FHL microfilm" to your local FHC . If the film is 1376368 or 1376369, you can email Janet for a lookup.
1898 - 1937The records (groom indexes and marriage certificates) are available at the NYC Municipal Archives. You can request a mail search or go in person. Grooms' indexes, but not records, are also available at the New York Public Library.
1898 - 1937Grooms are indexed at www.germangenealogygroup.com and www.italiangen.org
Also a very useful Search Tool at stevemorse.org.
1898 - 1937Brides are indexed at www.germangenealogygroup.com and www.italiangen.org
Also a very useful Search Tool at stevemorse.org.
1908-1950Reclaim the Records successfully fought for the microfilm index images. These indexes were formerly available on microfilm only at the New York City Municipal Archives. Instructions for how to obtain copies by mail of the actual records appears on the description page of every volume. Currently Staten Island records cover 1908-1950.
It would be helpful to know the borough and month. Try stevemorse above to get that, or possibly familysearch or ancestry.
1938 --->Write to City Clerk (marriage records), 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. They are covered by a 50-year privacy law, but NYC may vary from NYS.
Another ideaThere might be a church marriage record. If you have a good idea of the church call/write them or see the helplist.
? - ?County Clerk? (Overlap)

Deaths

Death Records
1665 - 1754See Probate below.
c. 1847 - c. 1851There is a spattering of deaths recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film numbers 1376368, 1376369. Please note: for this time frame, parents' names are not noted. See chart.
The early Northfield deaths (1847-1848) have been transcribed and are linked to the images. Please see Early Northfield Deaths.
1849-1850Some records are transcribed in the 1850 Mortality Schedules - this one is Marine Hospital, Irish names. Marine Hospital, all names is coming soon.
c. 1852 - c. 1880There are no deaths recorded in official records.
1874 - 1875Carol Race has transcribed census schedule deaths.
c. 1881 - 1897Many but not all deaths are recorded in Early Staten Island Vital Records. The records are available in 1) Helplist, 2) NYC Municipal Archives (but they will not do a mail search - you must go in person and request the microfilms from behind the counter), and 3) the Family History Library film number 1376369. (Where is a Family History Center near me?) See chart. Usually the records contain cemetery name.
The person querying should also consider the NYS records which partially duplicate what's in the MA but MAY have a record not in the MA. The State vitals are indexed at the National Archives, Houston & Varick Sts. Should that person find an indexed record of interest, then application can be made to charming NYS to get a copy. That takes a while and costs $11."
Some death records have been transcribed at Edgewater, 1895, 1897.
1898 - 1948The records are available at the NYC Municipal Archives. You can request a mail search or go in person. Indexes at https://stevemorse.org/vital/nydeath.html. Indexes, but not records, are also available at the New York Public Library.
1900 - 1911"The Italian Genealogy Group has finally put the NYC Death index on line. It covers 1891-1899 in Manhattan and 1900-1911 for All-Boros. I don't know how far along it is, the page is still listed as under construction but take a look and see what you think. This group does a lot of work for the genealogical community and your membership would be appreciated but it is not necessary to join the group to use their databases. You can find the site at www.italiangen.org Membership is $20 per year and if I must say so myself, I'm the editor, the newsletter alone is worth the price of admission. Consider it and enjoy the databases. Tony" NYC Death Index Database (Database searches > Death records > NYC Municipal Archives)
1949 ---> They are covered by a 50-year privacy law. Some people have gotten death certificates for recent deaths for non-ancestors, but I wouldn't necesarily specify that it's for genealogy. People often say "family records."
1949 --->These records are available from the NYC Department of Health, but they are covered by New York's 50-year privacy law. (The person must be proven deceased and you must be a descendant.) Indexes through 1982 are also available at the New York Public Library.
1957 - 1962Staten Island Deaths 1957-1962
Another ideaThere might be a church burial record. If you have a good idea of the church (here's a list of current Staten Island churches) call/write them or see the helplist.

The Social Security Death Index

If the person is deceased, e.g. on Ancestry's SSDI or Rootsweb's Ancestry's SSDI, you can request a copy of anyone's SS-5. Cost is $27 with SSN and $29? without. Generally they had to be working around 1934, when Social Security started. To find out about ordering the SS-5, you can order online at: https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3850/Can-you-provide-a-copy-of-a-deceased-person-s-Social-Security-number-application-for-genealogical-research but I find that hard to read so you might try http://members.aol.com/rechtman/ssafaq.html#Section2 archive. It will take a few months to arrive. I would have to look at my old ones to see the info it has, but i know it has current address & current employer (as of when they filled out the info) as well as birth date. The person must be deceased; if they aren't on the SSDI (which is only a limited subset of the people with social security numbers) then the SSA must have proof of death to send you the information. For one of my relatives, he wasn't on the SSDI but his widow had submitted a death certificate to collect her benefits, so I was able to order his info.

Obituaries Please see our new Obituaries page for complete information.

Cemeteries Please see our Cemeteries page for a very detailed list of cemeteries (active and abandoned) in Staten Island.

Probate

  • From Lynn:I have spent many hours at Surrogates Court in S.I. First of all bring your patience. Lots and Lots of quarters, two rolls, maybe even three. Turn on your microfilm printers as soon as you get there, they take awhile to warm up (unless you are fortunate and they replaced them). They take lunch, I believe 1 - 2 p.m. or is it 1:30 - 2:30?. I think that they open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. There is a security desk, so I don't know about camera's?

    Check the files draws (which is index cards per name) but, I have found that they are not all recorded there. There are two sets of many big old large books, per alpha, by last name, under the index card file boxes, check both sets of REGULAR wills and PROBATE wills. I have found that a lot is recorded in the PROBATE will books. You will be required to fill out the appropriate forms to obtain the microfiche of the wills. Make sure that you put in whether it is from the REGULAR will book or the PROBATE will book.

    Ask if they have the actual file. They have a lot of them in hard copy, but, it has been my experience that unless you ask/insist/throw a little fit, you get the microfiche copy which can/may/has been be incomplete.

    Across the street from Surrogates court is the Buildings Dept. There is so much to be found at the Buildings Dept. with a last name, date and address, you may find more than in the wills. Once entering the Buildings Dept. to the right way in the back is a room of old books, per year, per alpha. Just looking up your last names, may uncover so much more than the wills. Don't bother asking assistance from the Bldgs Dept. employee's they cannot help you. Go directly to the back. This section has a number of Title Search employees, ask anyone, they will direct you.

    May take more than one visit, but, rest assured, when you exit Surrogates Court to the right and turn right, is the Side Street Cafe, which is worth visiting.

  • From William: Yes, the tips about bringing your quarters was great. I brought two rolls($20) but wish I had brought 3 or 4 rolls. Some of the will files were 40 pages.

    The tips about checking both the wills and probate files also work well.

    My most difficult part of the visit was finding the right room. (Basement!). I was sent the 2nd and 3rd floor first.

  • Abstracts of Wills in early NY.
  • Will Testators Indexes Online for New York County to 1754. (Note: many Richmond county Wills were filed in New York County.)
  • Staten Island has probate records, but it's very expensive if you can't go yourself. More details soon.
  • There is a Will Index for ancestry subscribers, currently 1665-1790.
  • You can read and post wills and abstracts at our GenConnect Wills Board.

Miscellaneous submitted vitals

Early Staten Island Vitals

Film Item Town Years Title
1376368 1 Village of Port Richmond 2/16/1888-12/30/1897 Deaths
2/10/1888-12/24/1897 Births
2/8/1888-12/19/1897 Marriages
2 Village of Edgewater 8/23/1885-12/22/1897 Births
8/27/1885-12/30/1897 Marriages
3 Village of Edgewater 9/5/1885-12/29/1897 Deaths
4 Town of Castleton 1/3/1882-12/30/1897 Births
2/21/1882-12/30/1897 Marriages
5 Town of Castleton 1/2/1881-1/10/1887 Deaths
Village of New Brighton 1/11/1887-12/28/1888 Deaths
1376369 1 Castleton 1881-1897 BMD
2 Castleton 1848-1850 BMD
Northfield 1847-1850 BMD
Southfield 1848-1853 BMD
Westfield 1849 MD
Tottenville 1864-1865 Marriages
3 Northfield 1881-1897 BMD
4 Southfield 1881-1897 BMD
5 Westfield 1882-1897 BMD
6 Middletown 1882-1897 BMD
7 Tottenville 1890-1897 BMD
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